Express & Star comment: Midland Metropolitan Hospital is symptom of government failures
If ever there was a monument to the current state of government in this country, then the part-built shell of the Black Country’s “super” hospital is it.
The Midland Metropolitan Hospital was billed as the solution to the region’s healthcare needs when it was first mooted, a site that would reduce waiting times at other hospitals and provide state-of-the-art specialist care.
It is now three years late and more than £125 million over budget – and still there appears to be no end in sight for the saga.
The NHS trust behind the project has still not been given final approval to resume work at the site in Sandwell, which initially ground to a halt at the start of last year when builders Carillion went bust.
A delay was expected while a new contractor was found, but there appears to be no good reason behind the current hold up – at least not any that has been laid out in public.
We can fully understand the frustration of NHS bosses in Sandwell with the situation
In its current state, their “super” hospital looks anything but super.
Balfour Beatty has been lined up for months to take over the work, but builders have been blocked from entering the site.
The official line is that the project is “waiting on government approval” – and it is a safe bet that the Midland Met is not the only major scheme currently classed in that category.
People from across the region have waited patiently for this new hospital, and there is a real sense that frustrations are growing.
As things stand the opening date remains set for 2022, but as no new work has been done at the site for 20 months, it is impossible to rule out the possibility of yet another delay.
Theresa May’s administration was paralysed by Brexit, causing other areas of policy to fall by the wayside as that mess ensued.
Boris Johnson has promised that his government will be very different, and that the mistakes of the past will not be repeated.
If the Prime Minister wants to show the country that he really is a leader who can get things done, then sorting out the delays at the Midland Met would be an excellent place to start.
